ELVIRA TELLS
Professional training at Alfa Romeo
23 November, 2017
"Before making machines you have to make men."

"Before producing machines you have to manufacture men", this was the assumption from which the experience of Alfa Romeo's in-house school began, as part of the reorganization of the company desired by the General Manager, engineer Ugo Gobbato (1933-1945).
The company school, which began its activity in 1936, was divided into two sections: the apprenticeship school for engineers and industrial experts and the school for apprentices. The latter was open to children between the ages of 14 and 15 and preference was given to the children of employees and young people with a difficult family situation. It lasted three years and the climate there was very harsh. At the end of the three years, the students destined for the workshop carried out a test called "masterpiece". Next to the internal school, on July 29th 1938 the Dopolavoro of the National Opera "I piccoli di Padre Beccaro" of Milan was established.
Alfa Romeo had already been supplying the institute with machinery, workers and technicians for the preparation of recruits for its workshops since 1936. The young people who came from Pomigliano, after attending the apprenticeship school, also attended a two-year course at this institute.

In the picture from the left at the table, Giuseppe Scarnati, who drew the rear of the Giulia with a few strokes. Standing: Stefano D'Amico, Giuseppe Busso, Elvira Ruocco, Maurizio Tabucchi and Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni.

During the Second World War, many wards were displaced in various decentralisations. A communiqué of June 1, 1944 informed that at the request of numerous workers stationed in Armeno, a free evening course would be held to make it easier to read the technical drawings, held by Giuseppe Scarnati.
Giuseppe Scarnati was hired at Alfa in 1936 as a designer in the Carrozzeria Design office with engineer Finotti. In 1941 he was transferred to the aeronautical plant in San Martino di Pomigliano d'Arco, to the aircraft design office directed by Raimondo Gatti.
When this office was moved to Lago D'Orta, Scarnati returned to Carrozzeria Design again.

After a period of teaching at the Father Beccaro Institute, he returned to Portello as part of the Design Department with Ivo Colucci, responsible for Bodywork Design. In 1957 he was appointed head of the new Style Office, still employed by Colucci. In 1960 he was appointed Head of Office of the Style Office and in 1971 Head of Service of the newly established Style Centre. He was the designer of the Giulia Berlina and Alfetta. He retired in 1974.

 

Elvira Ruocco, historical memory of Alfa Romeo, thanks to her more than twenty years of experience at the Alfa Romeo Centro di Documentazione Storica, has become part of the Museum team and in the column "Elvira Racconta" she will share curiosities and anecdotes that you may not know or remember. We will retrace the legendary history of Alfa Romeo with her.